He has now recovered though, and expects to be back to work soon. It's interesting that he pretty much confirms that the exciting announcement he had intended to make at the TCA would be the possible completion of ADWD.

The bad news: well, obviously, there's nothing like a week in a hospital bed to kick a hole in your plans and good intentions. I did hope to have some exciting announcements to make at TCA, but that won't be happening now.

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There's only been a week of 3 to 4 between when he blogged about expecting to make this announcement during this January 8 weekend, so it seems reasonable to expect that since he will now start working again, we should expect that announcement to arrive later, but soon.

Secondly, courtesy of Wert's blog, there is this link to a representive from Martin's publisher stating that we should expect an announcement soon. It's also intersting that the rep confirms that Bantam is very aware of the opportunity to cross promote ADWD with the release of the TV series. Understandable, since that hype is now buzzing Game of Thrones to bestseller lists.

From a marketing perspective, it would be suicide if this announcement is not the completion of ADWD. It has been postponed for so long and with all the Wildcard-releases and other publicity around the tv-series, no other fans than the ones waiting for ADWD will be waiting for an announcement.

That said, I really hope it is ADWD, and I think there is a real possibility that it is. I won´t be disappointed if it´s not though, I still have a ton and a half of other books to read and I have no problem with GRRM taking his time, or even not completing the series at all.

Any announcement about the video game could be made by Cyanide directly, and would not be dependent on GRRM. In addition, Cyanide have been developing the game for about a year, which means there's likely another year to go, so there's not much really they can say.

I know that the activity at both Voyager and Random House has ramped up, particularly at Random House. It's also telling that Random House personnel have taken a strong interest in what's going on (rather than their imprint, Bantam Spectra, whose logo is on the SoIaF novels), as they are less emotionally-invested in the book (unlike the editors who have commented a lot recently and publicity personnel on Suvudu) and more interested in getting it out there, getting tons of words written about it and making sure it will be as unavoidable in a bookshop as a new Wheel of Time book and will sell correspondingly well.

I certainly wouldn't use the word 'imminent', but we are certainly very close. I'd still say weeks rather than days though.

Any announcement about the video game could be made by Cyanide directly, and would not be dependent on GRRM. In addition, Cyanide have been developing the game for about a year, which means there's likely another year to go, so there's not much really they can say.

I know that the activity at both Voyager and Random House has ramped up, particularly at Random House. It's also telling that Random House personnel have taken a strong interest in what's going on (rather than their imprint, Bantam Spectra, whose logo is on the SoIaF novels), as they are less emotionally-invested in the book (unlike the editors who have commented a lot recently and publicity personnel on Suvudu) and more interested in getting it out there, getting tons of words written about it and making sure it will be as unavoidable in a bookshop as a new Wheel of Time book and will sell correspondingly well.

I certainly wouldn't use the word 'imminent', but we are certainly very close. I'd still say weeks rather than days though.

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I am really happy for you Wert as well as all the Martin fans here. Really didn't think it would happen but it seems it will. I hope ADWD is everything all of you hoped for.

I am really happy for you Wert as well as all the Martin fans here. Really didn't think it would happen but it seems it will. I hope ADWD is everything all of you hoped for.

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Don't count the dragons before they're hatched though My recommendation to people is not to believe anything until the book is in their hands. Even if Martin finished it in a week, it'll still be several months before it comes out, and I'm hearing a very vague rumour that Random House are not necessarily going to honour the completion + 3 months guarantee Bantam made years ago and have already set a release date that has been unaffected by Martin's illness. I hope they're not going to hold it back all the way until the end of the year or something lame (or that Voyager follow suit).

Any announcement about the video game could be made by Cyanide directly, and would not be dependent on GRRM. In addition, Cyanide have been developing the game for about a year, which means there's likely another year to go, so there's not much really they can say.

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Of course, but it would still be a huge boost for the game if Mr Martin mentioned it.

I have to say, I knew it was a terrible idea to mention "exciting announcements" as soon as GRRM did so. He has a terrible (almost cursed?) habit of shooting himself in the foot, every time he makes such statements. And sure enough, he got sick and the "announcements" were postponed.

Still, I'm not sure where we've gotten the idea that GRRM confirmed that the announcement was about ADWD. I prefer not to speculate at this point.

Still, I'm not sure where we've gotten the idea that GRRM confirmed that the announcement was about ADWD.

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It's more the point that, amongst GRRM's announced projects, it can only be ADWD, as that is his only incomplete, currently announced work (he's already said that completion of the World book is on hold until he finishes ADWD, so it can't be related to that).

The other possibilities would be: a contract signed for a new anthology or WILD CARDS book; new licensing related to ASoIaF or other GRRM work; a new TV or film adaptation of his work; progress being made on the Skin Trade movie; something related to the computer game, P&P roleplaying game, the calenders or so on.

All of these things are things that can still be announced. GRRM's illness has no bearing on them.

The other possibility, and it should not be discounted, is that GRRM has an announcement about a previously-unannounced writing project, possibly a new D&D story or a new, ASoIaF-unrelated project, but both of these seem very unlikely.

So you eliminate those and you end up with ADWD. The announcement isn't necessarily completion but could be something very significant, like the book is being sliced in two for publication, or inessential but positive, like that Roy Dotrice has been locked for the audiobook.

Surely that's a best-case scenario now? Even if it has a poor ending, it could possibly be that ADWD2 would release sooner and almost gloss over that fact. It's happened in the UK with book 3 (I believe?) and I've heard no complaints about it beyond costing more to buy, so it's obviously there as an option for Martin and his publishers.

The way I see it, it's a great way for them to go. It gets a good boost of money in, it gives the fans something to read (And may help increase the visibility of both ASoIaF and GoT's impending broadcast) and Martin can then possibly take a little longer with the second half.

I'm ripping out my hair, and I really shouldn't as I'm not growing any younger. But there is this:
If George RR Martin was so close to wrapping up ADWD that he could announce it on January 9th (two frickin days from now), why can't he then announce it? It is not like announcing it one week later will make a difference. He seems quite healthy to me in those pictures from the TCA panel thing, and if he is able to attend that AND sign books, then I can't see how announcing ADWD could be so difficult. He lost one, maybe two weeks during Christmas; if he announced ADWD on the 9th, no one would be the wiser that he still needed a week or two wrapping it up.
In other words, I don't believe the announcement has anything to do with ADWD. More likely, a Russian animation studio has signed a deal to to a bi-monthly animated series based on "Tuf Voyaging". But who knows but the man.

More likely, a Russian animation studio has signed a deal to to a bi-monthly animated series based on "Tuf Voyaging". But who knows but the man.

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LOL.

Anyways, what about the fact that he said "Might have an exciting announcement that day as well. Maybe two. But don't quote me on that."

Why two? Clearly he's referring to more than just ADWD, if he's referring to ADWD at all. People are jumping the gun and assuming too much. I'm telling you, GRRM mentioning these announcements was a big mistake, I knew it from the instant I read those words for the first time, and I can't help but shake my head and wonder why he still does things like this to himself. Even if the book is mere days from completion, you'd think he'd have learned better by now.

Oh yes, if GRRM had a character sheet his "PR skill" would definitely be very low, if it had any score at all. It's the "Maybe two" part that I thought could-possibly- maybe-dear-god-please-let-it-be-so be the "ADWD" announcement, with the major announcement having something to do with the TV series (the execs are promising a second season? extended DVD edition will feature much nudity? Jon Snow's chin has been recast as beardless?)

I'm telling you, GRRM mentioning these announcements was a big mistake, I knew it from the instant I read those words for the first time, and I can't help but shake my head and wonder why he still does things like this to himself.

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My thoughts exactly. That´s why it´s PR-suicide if this is not about ADWD. But. who knows? It´s still GRRM we´re talking about...

Still, there are few announcement that he can make which are affected by his illness that are unrelated to ADWD—that´s why I get my hopes up.

Not really. The best case scenario I think is that the book is coming out and is so absolutely fricking gigantic you could kill a charging rhinocerous with it but they're not milking the readers for cash for the privilege

If George RR Martin was so close to wrapping up ADWD that he could announce it on January 9th (two frickin days from now), why can't he then announce it?

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In May 2005 GRRM thought he'd take a year to knock out two-thirds of A DANCE WITH DRAGONS I think he's taken the very wise step of not announcing anything unless it is actually done, dusted and off to the post office.

Not really. The best case scenario I think is that the book is coming out and is so absolutely fricking gigantic you could kill a charging rhinocerous with it but they're not milking the readers for cash for the privilege

Generally speaking, taking a bigger book and splitting it in half is never really satisfying. LORD OF THE RINGS, maybe (but only becuase Tolkien divided it in six parts to start off with), but other books, no. The UK two-book paperback edition of ASoS doesn't really work as just as the book takes off it stops, then you have to switch to the next volume and the rhythms get thrown off (and the Red Wedding works best at the 55% point of a one-volume edition, not a few chapters into the second book of a two-book edition which is just odd).

What I'm hearing at the moment supports the one-volume edition approach, at least for the hardcover, in both the UK and USA. Not 100%, but it seems to be the way publishers are inclined at the moment.

I believe GRRM wrote his blog, hit send and didn't think twice about the words "Exciting news". His handlers read it and freak out knowing that everyone assumes it ADWD. The announcement is postponed. The announcement is then delayed until after he is actually done with ADWD.

Slynt is right. There is no way 2 weeks of being sick would delay ADWD release announcement. The guy just doesn't think before he submits a blog. Surely after this someone will be proofing his blogs.

OR

ADWD is done, he was going to announce it, but someone i.e. HBO or his publishers want him to delay the announcment.

Does he have someone reading his blogs before he posts them?

Sounds like a pretty rough illness. I hope he is ok and feeling better.